Here are some observations for 10 years of being on internet lists.
Someone has to have the power to ban. Sooner or later someone will subscribe that is nothing but trouble. There needs to be a process to deal with this. If a thread needs to end the moderator needs to say so. Nasty remarks, ect need a warning from the moderator. I prefer this be via private mail but in some cases it helps for the whole list to see it.
A moderated list, where someone approves of each post, is impractical in a list of any size. Some lists moderate all newbie posts, just the first few. If someone gets a warning all their posts are moderated for whatever time period. If all hell breaks loose the list can be taken to moderated stasis, so all posts must be approved, till things die down. Gives people time to simmer down,too. Some use a penalty box if one does something really mean or continues to get warnings. They leave the list for a week. If this does not work they are banned.
One liners and quoting all the original post (and often 20 replies) can be stopped by filter rules. Set a limit for total lines, bounce attachments, and a rule for % of quoted to original, that would do it. The sender gets a nice e-mail telling them what they did wrong.
We have to have some rules to be civil. There must be consequences to actions, just as in society. The goal of rules is to allow the list to flow without any intervention (censorship, if you like). To be fair these consequences need to be graduated, to allow everyone to make a gaff now and then. This makes the consequences less harsh but gives people a chance. It makes it clear what is OK and what is not.
James
|
| |